Rob Mooy –
Every year at this time when the season’s first snow blankets the ground, our thoughts turn to our traditional weekend away to get Cheryl, Elizabeth and myself in the winter spirit. One of our perennial favourites is the Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls.
Snow, ice and spray from the falls turn nearby lamp posts, trees and even buildings into magnificent works of art. The mighty falls themselves, illuminated by powerful coloured lights, provide an unforgettable backdrop for the annual magical celebration transforming the changing beauty of Niagara Falls into a magical winter wonderland illuminated by millions of sparkling lights arranged in hundreds of beautiful light and animated motion displays.
A crowd favourite are the dozens of motion light displays and magical lighted trees that illuminate Queen Victoria Park, the main stage of the festival.
Just up the parkway in the Dufferin Islands, visitors will be awed by the many displays of Canadian wildlife – both modern and prehistoric.
When the sun sets, the park is taken over by moose, buffalo, howling wolves, bears, beavers even dinosaurs. Even Noah’s ark is there to give the creatures a home before the next sunrise.
Fireworks illuminate the sky over the falls several nights weekly year-round.
Niagara Falls is almost 54 metres high, nearly 12,000 years old and delivers millions of gallons of water each minute. While the falls are the area’s largest attraction, they definitely are not the only one.
Slip beneath the cascade, walk along the rim or rise high above them, the Horseshoe Falls are impressive even from a distance. But seen from tunnels just metres behind the crashing water wall you are dwarfed and sometimes drenched by the mighty curtain of water thundering past as visitors enjoy the Journey Behind the Falls located in Victoria Park.
A year-round tropical paradise awaits those who visit the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory.
Thousands of brightly coloured butterflies flutter and soar around visitors who make their way along a 180-metre network of paths through a lush rainforest environment.
Another popular destination is the Niagara Parks Greenhouses.
Surrounded by thousands of colourful lights, extended hours provide a warm retreat in a tropical paradise of colourful Christmas flowers.
For details visit www.niagaraparks.com .
After a short elevator ride, you’ve journeyed deep within to touch the heart of Niagara. Before you, the mighty river explodes after free-falling more than 13 stories. The sound is deafening, the sight, awe-inspiring.
The Bird Kingdom a tropical free-flight aviary that displays over 500 colourful birds from all over the world within a 15,000 square foot conservatory.
This wonderful world has become my family’s favourite place to visit, second only to the falls themselves.
The journey begins as you travel up to the third floor aviary where many smaller songbirds live. Next stop is the mysterious nocturnal jungle, home to poison arrow frogs, bird eating tarantulas, fruit bats, lizards, snakes and caymans.
Then upon entering the main aviary, you are awed at the sheer size and beauty of the main multilevel rainforest environment. The Bird Kingdom brings you face-to- face with wildlife, where birds play, fly, eat and bathe only a few feet away.
Visit www.niagarafallsaviary.com for more details.
Family favourites like Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, Movieland Wax Museum and the Great Canadian Midway entice families to the Clifton Hill tourist area where there is something for everyone.
The Niagara SkyWheel is one of the best ways to see the falls. Towering 175 feet over the Niagara Falls horizon, this giant ferris wheel provides an unforgettable family experience.
Another sky-high experience begins with a ride in the glass enclosed elevator that climbs 775 feet above the falls, all the way up the outside wall of the Skylon Tower. The observation deck at the top and revolving dining room, the highest vantage point overlooking the falls, provides spectacular views of the falls and beyond. Visit www.skylon.com
Come for the Falls, Fall for the History.
Visit the Niagara Falls History Museum and find out the story behind the world famous address. From the formation of the famous falls, to the Indigenous history and the ongoing stories of our community, the Museum provides you a sense of what makes this a truly unique city.
Visitors to the Museum in the heart of Niagara Falls will experience history first-hand during their visit. While here try on a replica uniform from the War of 1812, feel the heft of a musket, build a bridge to span the Niagara Gorge or walk the tightrope like the daredevils from the past.
Looking for a bite to eat? There is an abundance of dining options to fit every budget. But, there are a couple that stand out.
The Niagara Parks Commission has two very special restaurants that offer spectacular views of the falls. The Table Rock House Restaurant is situated just above the Rainbow Falls. Ask for a window seat and it feels like you are sitting on the edge of the falls.
This is the closest restaurant to the falls and provides a comfortable family environment for breakfast, lunch and dinner dining.
Just up the road is the Niagara Parks Queen Victoria Place and its Edgewaters Tap and Grill. This restaurant, intimate enough for couples and exciting enough for families, offer a panoramic view of both the Falls, while dining on a reasonably priced menu in a casual, relaxed atmosphere.
Visit www.niagaraparks.com .
Right across the road from our hotel was Turtle Jacks Muskoka Grill. This spacious and affordable restaurant is a cottage inspired experience serving steaks, ribs, fresh Atlantic salmon, salads & crispy wings. Turtle Jacks is a great option for couples and families. The service is great, the food is great and they have amazing deserts. www.turtlejacks.com/locations/niagara-falls
An entertaining evening of magic, illusion and great food await those who take in the newest attraction in the falls, the Greg Frewin Dinner Theatre.
Even local accommodations are getting into the festival spirit offering a number of special one or two night packages, some throwing in a bonus or two.
With one of the best locations in town. The Embassy Suites Niagara Falls is removed from all the hustle and bustle of the busy Clifton Hill Tourist area. Situated in the Fallsway Tourist area, this spectacular 42story hotel has some of the best views of the majestic Horseshoe and American Falls.
The Skylon Tower is right just down the road and the Niagara Fallsview Casino entertainment complex is just a block away.
Just 300 meters from Horseshoe Falls, Embassy Suites Niagara Falls offers several on-site dining options, an evening reception with complimentary drinks and snacks, and a free made-to-order buffet breakfast.
The Embassy Suites Fallsview is also conveniently connected to the Incline Railway which provides a fast and convenient link between the hotel and the waterfalls. After a night of exploring Niagara Falls, come back to the hotel, enjoy a swim in their indoor pool and retreat back to your two-room suite and enjoy the nightly illumination of Niagara Falls, right from your own private suite.
For casual fine dining the hotel is home to TGI Friday’s, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, and The Keg Steakhouse and Bar.
Visit www.embassysuitesniagara.com
Niagara’s Winter Festival of Lights adds excitement and sparkle to Niagara’s winter, truly making the falls a wonderful place to visit any time of year.
Check out the Niagara Falls Visitor and Convention Bureau website www.niagarafallstourism.com to plan your next falls family getaway.
Niagara Falls is the perfect destination for travelers of all ages.
